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Aux Switches

For the record, I am an electrical engineer. I have personally designed not only "wiring harnesses" but also circuit boards, processors, and other electronics components, as well as power distribution systems. I've done it for production work in the telecom and aviation industry. I also owned a company where we produced some components for resale to industry, and I made good money doing it. Some of these were control systems, but that makes no real difference in the points I was making. I've worked both sides of the fence, the design/manufacturing side, and the production/cost management side, and I'm retired now. Although I do still get calls to come and consult on certain kinds of projects.
 
brutal said:
The topic was resolved, no need to beat a dead horse.



Many here can attest to my "brutal" handle, and I also served my country, but that's no excuse to treat anyone poorly, and we do need to refrain from personal attacks or insults. I didn't see anyone say they were a Marine, so no need to play the crayon card, which could be considered quite insulting to some. ;) I've often used the term, "I can explain it to you again, but cannot make you understand it." Do unto others if you will.

Let's keep this thread on topic about Aux switches. You guys want to discuss manufacturing and economics, please start a new thread.

No reply necessary.
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p.s. - I actually am a former Marine, as is my wife. I couldn't afford to go to college, and I enlisted in the USMC at age 17. We married in the Corps. We stayed through 4 years, then entered the reserves and eventually the Air National Guard and retired after 20 years, though we continued in industry for two more decades. The Marines paid for a bit of our college, the first four years, but we both got Master's degrees, worked part time jobs to pay the bills, with student loans that took us years to pay off. It cost us a lot of weekends and vacations for years, doing our service.

Honestly, if someone wants to accuse me of eating crayons, well, that's not even an insult. I mean, when I did it, I farted colored bubbles. How many guys can say that? ;)
 
Well, in light of the information presented here, the aux switches have moved up to a must-have. I was hoping it would be an easy thing to add on later. The problem is my list of must-haves is getting longer and it is making finding the right truck difficult.
 
Brewbud said:
Well, in light of the information presented here, the aux switches have moved up to a must-have. I was hoping it would be an easy thing to add on later. The problem is my list of must-haves is getting longer and it is making finding the right truck difficult.
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It isn't too hard to install later but it is definitely more expensive.. and requires a little confidence in pulling apart your dash and Aux PDC box (if you have one), As I mentioned in a previous response a generic relay box would work just as well that would be easy to take power from your main PDC/Battery they come with everything you need to build up and are a fraction of the cost of the connectors etc required if using the Aux PDC. Just that it wouldn't look "standard"..
 
I don't have a problem digging into things, but as I get older I find I don't have the time. There is always a list of things my Jeep, house, or wife needs done. I will put a strong emphasis on having this as a factory option. I see them out there with it. They are usually on trucks that have a lot of stuff I don't want on them
 
Brewbud said:
I don't have a problem digging into things, but as I get older I find I don't have the time. There is always a list of things my Jeep, house, or wife needs done. I will put a strong emphasis on having this as a factory option. I see them out there with it. They are usually on trucks that have a lot of stuff I don't want on them
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Fwiw, I’ve noticed more dealers are ordering the aux switches with their trucks in my search (within 500 miles of Denver). The switches are a requirement for me as well and I’m finding many more trucks with them now than pre-covid.
 
RaptorHD said:
Well, remember that you do not have to get the Aux switches when you get the "right" truck.. When I spoke to my dealer and did a build of what I wanted he returned a quote for $65,000---Holy cow! So I did find a truck, real nice one in a color I do not really care (will repaint next summer) for but has all the options I wanted EXCEPT the aux switches. My plan will cost roughly $600 to remedy, I already got the switches ($89 ebay) and the Harness should run about $500.. I will install it all myself. What will I have when I am done? I will have the Aux switches, a harness that is up-gradable like a sliding rear window if I want it, a sunroof (I will never get but it will be available) Camera harness for full surround video (I only need the cargo and tailgate) well you get the idea.. So get a great truck, don't worry about the options, later you can add them and this is a great place to find that info!
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Which harness are you referring to that will run you about $500 to get the aux switches installed? The left dash harness that contains the aux PDC?
 
This is the exact problem that happens on all forums... A thread with helpful information in it is pinned to make it easier to find but, before you know it that pin is 500 pages long with thousands of useless comments in it. No disrespect meant to any of you guys above, but some of you guys are the same ones that get mad at new people for asking redundant questions because they can’t find the information they are looking for in previous threads. In reality not too many people have the time nor the fortitude to sit for hours reading through 500 pages just to find what they were looking for. Is there a reason why when we pin a specific thread containing great information that we can’t close it for comments? That way it is easy to find and questions, if anyone has them afterwards, can be addressed in a normal forum post?
 
Other forums I've been on have a DIY/Build section were people would submit a write up on how they did (whatever).

People could still comment, but the original information on what to buy and how to install were always the first few pages (depending on length and complexity).
 
RaptorHD said:
My plan will cost roughly $600 to remedy, I already got the switches ($89 ebay) and the Harness should run about $500.. I will install it all myself. What will I have when I am done? I will have the Aux switches, a harness that is up-gradable like a sliding rear window if I want it, a sunroof (I will never get but it will be available) Camera harness for full surround video (I only need the cargo and tailgate) well you get the idea.. So get a great truck, don't worry about the options, later you can add them and this is a great place to find that info!
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This is the left dash harness that you would remove and replace that contains the AUX PDC-
49zLMxg.jpg

You will gain pretty much nothing else except the AUX PDC when you install it. If we’re talking strictly replacing harnesses to get the features you want, then the sliding rear window also would need a different body harness. Sunroof needs a different body harness and headliner harness. And surround view- you wouldn’t even be CLOSE to having the connectors present by just swapping the left dash harness. There’s coax cable that’ll be missing from every single harness except the engine harness.
This is why it’s easier, and way cheaper to just build harnesses yourself that get added right to the factory connectors, rather than replacing entire harnesses. You can build the ENTIRE aux PDC system just like factory with all the correct connectors using a $14 relay box off of Amazon for about $100. Plus whatever the factory switch bank costs.
 
RaptorHD said:
If you are adding another relay box from amazon then you are not building a harness like The OEM MOPAR part. Then you have to mount the thing somewhere... Although I applaud your efforts looking for another way of doing this, I will get the harness and retain the OEM appearance.

Cheers!
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If you want to spend 4x as much as you need to to get it done, that’s cool, but don’t tell people that once you swap that harness in, you will be expandable to all those other features you listed, because you won’t. And, we don’t want someone who doesn’t know any better to come along and take what you said literally.
 
RaptorHD said:
Funny,,That is NOT what the Mopar upfitter said. Those harnesses are very specific for different applications, That is why there is a price difference. So "Jimmy" when you call and say you want to replace your harness they will ask you specifically "What" options your truck has! otherwise it would be a generic harness wouldn't it?

Also reading comprehension goes along way,, I wasn't really implying that the harness would have all those options, I said I would have them when I am done, I will still require the ancillary harnesses for the rear sliding window.. BUT you will need that Upgraded specific left harness for those!

If you just get the aux PDC in the original post (which was incorrect) you would be screwed, you need the left harness
with the Aux PDC..
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This is the second time this week you've tried to pick a fight with a long time well respected member here.

@Jimmy07 is a significant contributor to this forum and offers loads of free help and sound technical expertise building options onto member trucks.

Do it again and you get a timeout.
 
Ruffone said:
This is the exact problem that happens on all forums... A thread with helpful information in it is pinned to make it easier to find but, before you know it that pin is 500 pages long with thousands of useless comments in it. No disrespect meant to any of you guys above, but some of you guys are the same ones that get mad at new people for asking redundant questions because they can’t find the information they are looking for in previous threads. In reality not too many people have the time nor the fortitude to sit for hours reading through 500 pages just to find what they were looking for. Is there a reason why when we pin a specific thread containing great information that we can’t close it for comments? That way it is easy to find and questions, if anyone has them afterwards, can be addressed in a normal forum post?
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Not that I disagree as I've been trying to get some members to realize they are thread-crapping seemingly everywhere, but if this was a technical write-up post then we could certainly lock the thread if the OP requests. However in this case, it seems more of a how to Q&A thread with several different ways of adding the Aux switches and we'll have to tolerate the odd off topic reply here and there.

We can also ask an OP to add (edit) all the final details to their first post if a complete solution has been determined and documented, or in the case of an MIA member, it has been done by site mods (Trailer TPMS thread).

As to the few members that came in and trashed the thread, the posts could certainly be deleted if there's enough complaints (report post). Otherwise I get beat up and mocked or accused of censoring for deleting said useless posts and reducing someone's precious post count. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

As the membership here grows, there's inevitably going to be more of this. Members can help the staff by reporting inappropriate posts or members that are violating rules or common forum etiquette. New rules (borrowed from 5thGenRams site) have been posted recently to help guide what's acceptable, but common sense prevails.
 
brutal said:
Not that I disagree as I've been trying to get some members to realize they are thread-crapping seemingly everywhere, but if this was a technical write-up post then we could certainly lock the thread if the OP requests. However in this case, it seems more of a how to Q&A thread with several different ways of adding the Aux switches and we'll have to tolerate the odd off topic reply here and there.

We can also ask an OP to add (edit) all the final details to their first post if a complete solution has been determined and documented, or in the case of an MIA member, it has been done by site mods (Trailer TPMS thread).

As to the few members that came in and trashed the thread, the posts could certainly be deleted if there's enough complaints (report post). Otherwise I get beat up and mocked or accused of censoring for deleting said useless posts and reducing someone's precious post count. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

As the membership here grows, there's inevitably going to be more of this. Members can help the staff by reporting inappropriate posts or members that are violating rules or common forum etiquette. New rules (borrowed from 5thGenRams site) have been posted recently to help guide what's acceptable, but common sense prevails.
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I agree it would be a big help to have a write up specific to this mod. If you go back to the original post it was not intended as a DIY post. They were simply asking a question about the Aux switches. There isn't any actual DIY help until you get several pages in.
 
trdt44 said:
The switch panel part number that I used is 68376640AE.
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Thank you for sharing the photo. But if I order this switch for my truck, it will be missing the Exhaust brake button. Which part will include the Exhaust brake button in addition to the other buttons?
 
Atty said:
Found this diagram for the Aux PDC while looking for the terminals/connectors required... Once I find the connectors I'll have everything I need to wire it up.. If anyone out there knows what the part numbers are for the needed terminals and would be willing to provide them that would be great!
  • 8x male fuse terminal (pins 35-45)
  • 12x female terminals for relays (power side of the relay, pins 51-52, 56-57, etc..)
  • 12x female terminals for relays (control side of the relay, pins 53 & 55, etc..)
View attachment 5390
View attachment 5391
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If I add the Aux switches, will the current harness work? or I need to add new connection to interface to the aux switches? I am confused about this... how can I find out? thanks
 
SFC said:
68376644AE

Page 4 of this thread has the pics.
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thank you. NOW the dumb question: if I remove the old switch and add this one, would the same harness / connector work? If so, can you point me to where I can find a way to take the 12 inch display and swap the switch?
 
davidskywalker said:
thank you. NOW the dumb question: if I remove the old switch and add this one, would the same harness / connector work? If so, can you point me to where I can find a way to take the 12 inch display and swap the switch?
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Yes, other have done this and the harness will plug right in, that being said the wires from in the cab to the PDC do not exist. I believe someone stated that the harness from the switches connects to a harness under the knee panel that needs to be retrofitted with the wiring into the PDC. I haven't seen anyone walk through the actual removal, if you read this entire thread that should help. There are a couple other forums that also talk about this subject that have additional information. I finally have all my parts and will work on it sometime soon.
 
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